The son of Republican Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez was arrested Wednesday after assaulting Miami city commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla at a steakhouse in Coral Gables.
Carlos J. Gimenez, a lawyer, and lobbyist caught Portilla off guard when he slapped him at Morton’s Steakhouse on Wednesday afternoon. The Gimenez and Portilla families have a long history in Miami politics and both men are members of powerful political families with ties going back more than a decade.
Portilla said Gimenez acted “cowardly” and admitted he had been caught off guard.
“It was more like a flick of his wrist from behind me when I was having lunch as he cowardly approached me from behind and ran away,” Portilla said in a statement. “This guy is not known as a very courageous guy.”
Portilla accused Gimenez in his statement of being under the influence during the attack.
“There was some kind of conversation and a slap,” said Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak, according to the Miami Herald. Hudak called the altercation “unremarkable,” and he is speaking to the public about it because of “who everybody is.”
Gimenez was arrested and charged with one count of simple battery.
“That’s what was indicated to us: that there was a slap either to the back or the back of the head,” Coral Gables Police Chief announced. “The sergeant of arms, the City of Miami police officer that is assigned to the commissioner took action and affected an arrest detaining the individual on the scene until our units arrived.”
Rep. Gimenez said he was “not happy” about his son’s actions.
“Whenever a son, friend, or relative is arrested, it’s not a good day and so obviously not happy with what happened,” Gimenez said. “I understand it’s a simple battery, something I guess is between the two of them, and we’ll let the legal system work itself out.”
